I get the impression that men in particular love Rome for the image of historical, European masculinity. Well, all the parts that reinforce modern views of masculinity while ignoring all the really gay aspects of that historic period.

I personally think these guys will go through the most extreme mental gymnastics to continue hating women in place of any deeper, more meaningful connection with other men that doesn’t include violence in one form or another.

Which all seems to happily align with the building of a fascist ideology…